INFLATABLE MATTRESSES

Abstract: With reference to figures 1 to 3, an air inflatable mattress (1) is of elongated plan form, comprising a plurality of inflatable cells (2), also of elongated plan form, disposed contiguously in a row extending along the longitudinal axis (3) of the mattress. Constraint means (4) of tray-like form encircle the cells (2) so as to retain them in position with their upper ends (5) exposed, whereby said upper ends form a resilient support surface (6). The cells (2) are formed with pleats (25) so that when a body is placed on the resilient support surface (6), the support surface material is not tensioned substantially. A cell (2) is of flexible sheet material and comprises an inner sheet (15) disposed between outer sheets (16, 17). The outer sheets (16, 17) are secured by spot welds (18, 19) to the inner sheet (15). Inflation air can flow freely between opposite sides of the inner sheet (15). The spot welds on each side of a cell (2) define a series of sub-cells. As shown in figures 7 to 9, the mattress may be "tuned" so as to change the yield characteristic of a cell (2). "Tuning" may comprise placing a close-fitting sleeve (52) on a cell so as to embrace it around its longitudinal axis (53).

Description: INFLATABLE MATTRESSES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to inflatable mattresses. Although the invention is primarily concerned with inflatable mattresses to provide yielding support for a recumbent human body, as used herein the term 'mattress' is intended to include resilient cushions, seats and like body-support structures. A mattress according to the invention may be used to support any form of load, including loads other than a human body. The invention has particular application to the prevention and treatment of pressure sores, which is a major nursing problem. SUMMARIES OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, an inflatable mattress comprises a plurality of inflatable cells of elongated plan form, the cells being disposed side by side in a row, and constraint means for retaining the cells in position with their upper ends exposed whereby said upper ends form a resilient support surface, the cells being formed and constructed so that when the mattress is loaded by placing a body on the support surface, the support surface material is not subjected to significant tension. By not subjecting the support surface material to significant tension, 'hammocking' of the support surface material is avoided, and interface pressure between the loading body and the support surface material, which, in the case of a human body gives rise to pressure sores, is limited. Preferably, a cell is formed and constructed with material which is superfluous when the mattress is substantially unloaded, and is non- superfluous when the mattress is substantially loaded. The superfluous material is preferably provided by forming pleats in the material . The invention also resides in a mattress cell per se. According to another aspect of the present invention, an inflatable mattress comprises a plurality of inflatable cells of elongated plan form, the cells being disposed side by side in a row, first constraint means for retaining the cells in position with their upper ends exposed whereby said upper ends form a resilient surface, and second constraint means embracing at least one of the cells around its longitudinal axis, so as to change the yield characteristic of the cell, where so embraced, whereby the depth of cell immersion otherwise experienced by a downwardly directed load on the cell is substantially reduced. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an inflatable mattress comprises a plurality of inflatable cells of elongated plan form, the cells being disposed side by side in a row, first constraint means for retaining the cells in position with their upper ends exposed whereby said upper ends form a resilient surface, and second constraint means embracing at least one of the cells around its longitudinal axis, so as to reduce the height of the cell, where so embraced. The second constraint means allow the inflatable mattress to be ' tuned' to suit the particular requirements of a recumbent body. For example, where the body has a tender heel, use of the second constraint means enables the heel to receive local support. The second constraint means preferably comprise a sleeve of flexible sheet material which is fitted over the associated cell, before inflation thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of an inflatable mattress according to the first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 is a front view of a mattress cell, Figure 3 is a section, taken on the lines 111—111 of Figure 2, Figures 4, 5 and 6 are semi-diagrammatic end views of the mattress, and illustrate, respectively, unloaded, partially loaded, and fully loaded conditions, Figure 7 is a semi-diagrammatic end view of a mattress according to the second aspect of the invention, and Figures 8 and 9 illustrate the change in the yield characteristics obtainable thereby. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figures 1 to 3, an air inflatable mattress 1 is of elongated plan form and comprises a plurality of inflatable cells 2, also of elongated plan form, disposed contiguously in a row extending along the longitudinal axis 3 of the mattress. Constraint means 4 encircle the cells so as to retain them in position with their upper ends 5 exposed, whereby said upper ends form a resilient support surface 6. As explained hereinafter, the cells 2 are formed and constructed so that when a body 7 (Figures 5 and 6) is placed on the resilient support surface 6, the support surface material is not tensioned substantially. The constraint means 4 comprises a tray-like structure of flexible sheet material. The assembly of cells 2 and constraint means 4 are support by a base 8. The mattress 1 has an oblong plan form. The cells 2 and restraint means 4 are flexible sheet material such as PVC. With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, a cell 2 comprises an inner sheet 15 disposed between outer sheets 16, 17. The outer sheets 16, 17 are secured by spot welds 18, 19 to the inner sheet 15. Inflation air can flow freely between opposite sides of the inner sheet 15. The sheet fastenings, ie the spot welds 18, 19 are disposed in longitudinally extending rows, so that the welds on each side of the cell 2 define a series of rectangles, four welds to a rectangle. Each volume bounded by a rectangle comprises a sub-cell. For example, sub-cells 20, 21, 22, 23 on the sheet 17 side of a cell 2. The group of spot welds on one of the outer sheets, ie 16 or 17, are staggered with respect to those on the other of the outer sheets, so that the series of rectangles on opposite sides of the cells 2 are staggered or off-set relative to each other. The dimensions of the rectangles defined by the spot welds differ. This is shown in Figure 2, wherein the pitch A of the spot welds 19 defining the rectangle of the central sub-cell 20 is less than pitch B of the spot welds 19 defining the two rectangles of the sub-cells 21 flanking the central sub-cell 20. Spot-weld pitch C is greater than pitch B. Similarly the spot-weld pitch D of the two outermost of the rectangles is greater than pitch C. In the embodiment illustrated, pitches A, B, C and D are, respectively, 4.0 inches, 4.5 inches, 5.0 inches and 5.50 inches (101.60 mm, 114.30 mm, 127.00 mm and 139.70 mm). The spot-weld pitches E, F and G on the outer sheet 16 are, respectively, 4.25 inches, 4.75 inches and 5.25 inches (106.82 mm, 119.52 mm and 132.22 mm). The presence of the spot-welds 18, 19 creates pleats or tucks 25 when the associated cell 2 is inflated. The pleats 25 extend substantially horizontally across a cell 2 as well as substantially vertically down the sides thereof. The pleats 25 provide the support surface 6 of the mattress 1 with superfluous material. That is, material, which, when the mattress 2 is unloaded, as shown in Figure 4, is not required to present a support surface. When the mattress 2 is unloaded, the support surface 6 can be said to be dis-continuous. When a human body 7 of medium weight is placed on the support surface 6, as shown in Figure 5, the portions of the hitherto superfluous material of the inflated cells 2 beneath the body unfolds, reducing the volumes of the associated pleats 25. The hitherto superfluous cell material now becomes non-superfluous as it augments the original support surface area, preventing it from being subjected to significant tension, thus avoiding ' hammocki ng J Thus the body 7 is not subjected to an interface pressure with the support surface 6, sufficient to give rise to pressure sores. The body 7 immerses into the mattress 1 until air pressure within the cells 2 equalises with the load applied by the body. Figure 6 illustrates how the mattress 1 copes with a human body 7a, significantly heavier than body 7, although the same effect can be obtained by retaining body 7 and lowering the cell inflation pressure. Here, the pleats 25 beneath the body 7a have almost disappeared, the hitherto superfluous material augmenting the support surface 6 as before. The depth of immersion of a body into the mattress 1 results in the interface surface, ie the surface between the body and that part of the mattress providing support, increasing as the depth of body immersion increases. The mattress 1 spreads the body weight more evenly over a larger area, thus decreasing average interface pressures. The cells 2 of the mattress 1 are inflated by- pressurised air supplied by way of a valved inlet 30 (Figure 2) connected to a pressure control/air supply unit 31, by a line 32. The unit 31 inflates the cells 2 as may be required. For example, in an alternating inflation pressure sequence. By attaching the inner sheet 15 of a cell 2 to the outer sheets 16, 17 in the manner described above, the central portion of each inflated cell 2, when viewed from above, is relatively narrow in relation to the outer portions. Thus, on looking down on the support surface 6, each cell 2 appears generally bow-tie shaped (not shown in Figure 1). Expressed another way, the construction of the cells 2 gives rise to vertically-extending gaps 50 between adjacent cells which gaps are relatively wide at the longitudinal axis 3, but which are progressively narrowed as the sub-cells increase in size in horizontal directions extending away from the axis 3. By varying the sizes and spacings of the sub-cells 20, etc, the mattress 1 can be adapted to accommodate a wide range of requirements. The sub-cells 20 etc need not be of rectangular form. They could, for example, be of circular form. Instead of two or more rows of spot-welds (or other fastenings) on one side of a cell 2, a single row may be provided. The spot-welds/ fastenings may be disposed in a non-linear, for example a zig-zag formation. The inner sheet 15 of a cell 2 could be replaced by other structure. For example, by a plurality of restraint or bracing tapes. The inflatable mattress 50 illustrated by Figure 7 is identical to the mattress 1 of Figures 1 to 6, but with the addition of restraint means 51. Hereinafter, in order to distinguish one restraint means from another, the restraint means 51 may be referred to as the 'second restraint means', the 'first' restraint means being restraint means 4. The second restraint means 51 of Figure 7 comprises a close-fitting sleeve 52 of flexible sheet material which embraces a cell 2. The tubular sleeve 52 embraces the cell 2 around its longitudinal axis 53, and is sized so as to change the yield characteristic (and amplitude) of the cell, where so embraced, whereby the depth of cell immersion otherwise experienced by a downwardly directed load on the cell is substantially reduced. The yield change characteristic is illustrated by Figures 8 and 9. In Figure 8, a direct load W imposed on a cell 2 can result in immersion of the load to a depth HI. In Figure 9 the cell 2 which is embraced by the close-fitting sleeve 52 is reduced in height by distance D by the constraint imposed by the sleeve. When the same load W is imposed on this constrained cell 2, the depth of cell immersion is Hl-D or H2. Thus the upward thrust provided by the inflated cell is modified, so as to take place within a shorter distance. The presence of the second constraint means 51 allows the inflatable mattress to be 'tuned' locally, in order to suit the particular requirement of a recumbent body (such a body 7 of Figure 5). Thus interface pressures resulting from contact of the body with part of the mattress can be varied as desired. For example, the body may have a tender heel. Suitable placement of the sleeve 52 enables the heel to be supported locally, without the heel having to sink too deeply into the mattress cell 2 before receiving adequate support. In other words, any tendency for a cell 2 to 'bottom' is avoided, without any need for increase of cell inflation pressure. The remainder of the body including, of course, the leg with the tender heel, is supported by the rest of the cells 2, and by the unconstrained part of the cell 2 shown in Figure 7. There is a marginal rise in the interface pressure at the points of contact between the leg and the leg-supporting cells, and a reduction in interface pressure where the sore heel contacts the constrained cell, the latter having been 'pulled down' in order to reduce interface pressure. A range of sleeves 52 may be provided. For example, of different lengths and material thickness. The sleeves 52 must be sized so as to reduce the cell height, as shown in Figures 7 and 9. More than one cell 2 may be embraced by a sleeve 52, if this is desired. The presence of superfluous cell material provided by pleats or tucks 25, (see Figure 7), does not matter when a sleeve 52 is in place. The cell material is merely crushed-up' by the close-fitting sleeve. Use of second restraint means 51 is not confined to the form of inflatable cell illustrated by Figures 1 to 6. This second aspect of the invention is applicable to any inflatable mattress cell which has an elongated plan form. A sleeve 52 preferably comprises a one-piece tube. However, one could form a sleeve by wrapping a length of flexible sheet material around a cell, securing the sheet in place by removable straps, or the use of 'VELCRO' (Registered Trade Mark) fasteners.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An inflatable mattress (1) comprising a plurality of inflatable cells (2) of elongated plan form, the cells being disposed side by side in a row,character sed in that constraint means (4) are provided for retaining the cells (2) in position with their upper ends (5) exposed whereby said upper ends form a resilient support surface (6), and that the cells (2) are formed and constructed so that when the mattress (1) is loaded by placing a body (7) on the support surface (6), the support surface material is not subjected to significant tension. 2. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the constraint means (4) comprise a tray-like structure of flexible sheet material. 3. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that the constraint means (4) and inflatable cells (2) are supported by a base (8). 4. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein each inflatable cell (2) is formed and constructed of flexible sheet material (15, 16, 17) which is superfluous when the mattress (1) is substantially unloaded, and is non-superfluous when the mattress (2) is substantially loaded. 5. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the superfluous material is formed by providing pleats (25) in the material . 6. An inflatable mattress as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that an inflatable cell (2) comprises an inner sheet (15) disposed between two outer sheets (16, 17) with the outer sheets (16, 17) secured to the inner sheet (15) at spaced-apart points . 7. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the spaced-apart points (18, 19) are disposed in longitudinally- extending rows, so as to define a series of rectangles on each side of a cell (2). 8. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the volume bounded by each rectangle comprises a sub-cell (20, 21, 22, 23). 9. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the rectangles on opposite sides of a cell (2) are offset relative to each other. 10. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the sizes the rectangles on opposite sides of a cell (2) differ in dimensions. 11. An inflatable mattress as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that each inflatable cell (2), when viewed from above, has a central portion relatively narrow in relation to its outer portions, so as to provide vertically-extending gaps (50, Figure 1) between adjacent cells (2). 12. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the widths of the vertically-extending gaps (50) are relatively large at the longitudinal axis (3) of the mattress (1), and are progressively narrow in horizontal directions extending away from said axis (3). 13. An inflatable mattress as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 12, characterised in that said inner sheet (15) is replaced by tape material (not shown). 14. An inflatable mattress as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that at least one inflatable cell (2 ) is provided with constraint means (51) operable so as to change the yield characteristic of the cell (2), whereby the depth of cell immersion otherwise experienced by a downwardly directed load (W) is substantially reduced (to H2). 15. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the second-mentioned constraint means (51) comprise a close-fitting sleeve (52) of flexible sheet material embracing the cell (2) around it longitudinal axis (53). 16. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 14 or 15, characterised in that a plurality of said second-mentioned constraint means (51) are provided. 17. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that said close-fitting sleeve (52) comprises a one-piece tube. 18. An inflatable mattress as claimed in claim 15 or 16, characterised in that said close-fitting sleeve (52) comprises a wrapping of flexible sheet material held in place in a removable manner. 19. An inflatable mattress (1) comprising a plurality of inflatable cells (2) of elongated plan form disposed side by side in a row, characterised in that first constraint means (4) are provided for retaining the cells (2) in position with their upper ends (5) exposed whereby said upper ends form a resilient surface (6), and second constraint means (51) embracing at least one of the cells (2) around its longitudinal axis (53), so as to change the yield characteristic of the cell, where so embraced, whereby the depth of cell immersion otherwise experienced by a downwardly directed load (W) on the cell is substantially reduced (to H2). 20. An inflatable mattress (1) comprising a plurality of inflatable cells (2) of elongated plan form, disposed side by side in a row, characterised in that first constraint means (4) are provided for retaining the cells (2) in position with their upper ends (5) exposed whereby said upper ends form a resilient surface (6), and second constraint means (51) are provided for embracing at least one of the cells (2) around its longitudinal axis (53), so as to reduce the height of the cell, where so embraced (to H2). 21. For use with an inflatable mattress as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10, on of the inflatable cells (2) per se.

Inventors: EVANS CHRISTOPHER PETER, EVANS JOHN JAMES HENRY, EVANS RONALD JAMES PETER, EVANS, CHRISTOPHER, PETER, EVANS, JOHN, JAMES, HENRY, EVANS, RONALD, JAMES, PETER
Applicants: EVANS CHRISTOPHER PETER, EVANS JOHN JAMES HENRY, EVANS RONALD JAMES PETER, TALLEY GROUP LTD, EVANS, CHRISTOPHER, PETER, EVANS, JOHN, JAMES, HENRY, EVANS, RONALD, JAMES, PETER, TALLEY GROUP LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47C27
IPC codes: A47C27